Among the many interesting notes during Brian Kelly’s media session this morning, none will be dissected like his comments about the future of Michael Floyd. The star Irish receiver, who was named co-captain of the Irish for the 2011 season, has been suspended indefinitely by the football program after being arrested for drunk driving on March 20th.

When the decision was made, Kelly released the following statement:

“Football needs to take a backseat at the moment while Michael gets his life in order. And while I don’t know when Michael will be reinstated, it will not happen until Michael demonstrates he has successfully modified his behavior and the legal and university disciplinary matters have run their respective courses. What’s most important right now is Michael is focusing on maturing and developing more as a person while working to improve his decision-making process.”

Today, Kelly shed some more light on the process, and he expects to learn more about Floyd’s future in the very near future.

“What I heard was that he would be meeting with Residential Life this week,” Kelly said. “And that some kind of decision relative to that meeting would be very soon after.”

If you were curious as to whether or not this decision has been in the hands of the head football coach, it’s clear that he’s done exactly what he’s said he’d do — wait for the process to play out.

“They have not told me directly nor have I called them to ask,” Kelly said. “I’m getting my information second-hand. I know that Michael is scheduled to meet with them and they have informed him that a decision would be made quickly.

According to sources close to the wide receiver, Floyd has already met with ResLife and feels like he represented himself well in the meeting. While there have been rumors of Michael exploring the NFL’s supplemental draft and even the CFL, he expressed his desire to complete both his collegiate football career as well as his degree at Notre Dame, something reassuring for both fans and the football staff at Notre Dame.

More importantly, it seems as if Floyd’s already started the process of getting “his life in order,” something Kelly stressed from the get-go.

“He’s already taken definitive action,” Kelly said today. “I’m not going to get into his personal life, but I think you can read between the lines. He’s already reached out to make that happen in a very positive way. So he understands he needs to be educated. And he’s started that process.”

While Kelly wouldn’t speak entirely to the disciplinary process that’ll go on with Michael after his round with ResLife, it wasn’t hard to reach the conclusion that he’d welcome back his star receiver if he continues down this path.

“Look, I’m a teacher and an educator. From my perspective, I’m always thinking about educational opportunities, so I always think in those terms,” Kelly said. “My first reaction is always about how can we learn. But that’s me. I’m not in that office.”

The person who is in that office is Father Tom Doyle, the Vice President of Student Affairs. His move to the department of ResLife marked a noticeable change in an office known for its draconian process. Under Doyle, the process seems to have changed, and the precedent set in the handling of tight end Mike Ragone’s ticketing for marijuana possession last spring means that Floyd’s disciplining won’t be as cut and dry as many that have taken to quoting the bylaws of DuLac should expect.

Either way, it sounds as if Floyd’s exile from the team — however long is ends up being — will be determined before spring practice ends.

The quicker the decision comes out of Res Life, the quicker MMF can decide to enter the supplemental draft. That’s why I don’t think he’ll be suspended. A full suspension would cause them to lose their best player, team co-captain, someone poised to break all kinds of records on the field, etc. I don’t think the University would shoot itself in the foot like that. A high profile leader like Floyd coming to terms with and overcoming an alcohol problem presents so many opportunities to teach fellow players and students about character. When Floyd decided to return to school for his senior season, the quotes from both Michael and his Mother led me to think that they were both quality people, full of character. Now it’s time for that character to shine through, overcome this problem and educate others along the way. We already know the kid is a hard worker and it sounds as if he’s already taken steps in the right direction. Let the haters go on hating…….they will anyway. Floyd will get it done, he’ll sit for three games and provide a teaching moment about character. GO IRISH.